BY THE NUMBERS: 73-73 – Carolina’s all-time home record, which includes 8-0 seasons in 1996 and 2008 and a 0-8 season in 2001.

MATCHUP TO WATCH: The Panthers are money when the run the football 30 or more times in a game in their history. How money? They are 100-21 after accomplishing the feat during last week’s 35-10 win at Minnesota. With the Rams ranked 30th (out of 32 teams) in rushing defense at 130.5 yards per game, one would imagine the Panthers’ ability or inability to establish a running game will dictate the outcome of this game.

NOTABLE: The Rams are one of the Panthers’ first divisional rivals (NFC West) from 1995-2001 and split their 14 meetings….

Carolina’s first-ever win over St. Louis in 1996 at then-first-year Ericsson Stadium by a 45-13 margin was the largest margin of victory in Panthers’ franchise history until 2006….

There are several local ties on the coaching staffs – Panthers offensive line coach John Matsko was Rams offensive line coach from 1999 to 2005, Panthers wide receivers coach Ricky Proehl played for the Rams from 1998 to 2002, Rams offensive line coach Paul T. Boudreau served as offensive line coach for the Panthers from 2001 to 2002, Rams linebackers coach Frank Bush played at N.C. State, Rams quarterback coach Frank Cignetti was N.C. State offensive coordinator in 2006, Rams wide receivers coach Ray Sherman was running backs coach at Wake Forest from 1978 to 1980 and Rams assistant defensive line coach Clyde Simmons is from Wilmington’s New Hanover High and played at Western Carolina….

Several Rams players have Carolinas connections – tight end Jared Cook played at South Carolina, wide receiver Chris Givens played at Wake Forest, defensive end William Hayes is from High Point and played at Winston-Salem State, wide receiver Brian Quick is from Columbia, S.C. and played at Appalachian State, defensive end Robert Ladson is from Ladson, S.C. and played at North Carolina and safeties Darian Stewart (South Carolina) and Matt Daniels (Duke) played in the Carolinas….

It’s interesting that while rival quarterbacks Sam Bradford (2010) and Cam Newton (2011) were the No. 1 overall selections in back-to-back years by the Rams and Panthers, respectively, their contracts are vastly different. Bradford’s six-year, $78 million contract remains the largest rookie contract in league history in July 2010 is considered one of the biggest reasons for the league’s lockout the following year – or after Newton was picked No. 1 overall and later signed to a much smaller contract (four years, $22.025 million) due to the negotiated rookie contract scale.

PREDICTION: Carolina 31, St. Louis 24. As our picking record indicates, the unpredictability of the Panthers is well-documented. The Rams have had a similar rollercoaster ride – getting blasted 31-7 by the Cowboys but routing the Texans 38-13 in their last two road games. Here’s to thinking the Panthers find a way to establish their running game against a frequently vulnerable Rams’ defense.